Two Sisters

circa 1655

Giovan Bernardo Lama (Naples, 1536-1600 ca.) The Pietà oil on panel 51 x 41 cm. Antique frame (defects and faults) 66 x 56 cm. Observing the exquisite quality and the elegance ...

Ippolito Scarsella, known as Lo Scarsellino (Ferrara, c. 1550 - 1620) workshop Holy Family with the Infant St John oil on arched panel 46 x 29 cm. in a small temple frame 75 x 55 cm This interesting work shows us one of the most sought-after iconographic subjects in the Christian tradition, presented here according to an ancient and proven scheme. We see the Virgin, majestic, in the centre of the scene while holding a chubby child, who is offering a small bird to the young St John (tradition has it that it is a goldfinch, one of the symbols of the passion of Christ) to be caressed. Completing the Holy Family, we can see Saint Joseph in the shadows, apart from the loving everyday scene depicted in the foreground, calmly leaning on his walking stick. Regarding the stylistic characteristics of this small panel, it is easy to recognise the influence of 16th and 17th century Emilian painting, which leads us to confirm its traditional attribution to Ippolito Scarsella (circa 1550 - 1620) from Ferrara, undoubtedly one of the most important artists of this pictorial context. It could very well be a trial sketch...

Jan van Gelder, Italianised as Giovanni Vangheldri (Antwerp 1621 – Modena 1685) Portrait of the Duchess Vittoria Farnese d'Este (Parma, 1618 – Modena, 1649) wife of Francesco I d'E...

Portrait of a lady wearing a white gown with a red cloak, pearls in her hair and draped over one shoullder, standing beside a classical urn with a basket of flowers, c.1765. The portrait is believed to be a companion portrait of a John (1741-1816) or James (1751-1807) Durno which is housed in an identical frame. The sitter is possibly either the wife of John who was Janes Byres of Stonywood or John and James's sister Elizabeth. (James never married). The Durno family were based around the Aberdeen area of Scotland and John was an advocate in the area and then later a customs official in Jamaica. James was a successful timber merchant, spending time in the Baltic before being made His Majesty's Consul in Memel, Prussia. The portrait is likely to have been painted before Tilly travelled to India in 1768, when John, Jane and Elizabeth would have been in their twenties. We are gtrateful to Mark Beattie for sharing his family knowlege and research on the portrait. Provenance: With W. C. Beattie in the mid 19th century, and by descent through the family Private collection, Kent With thanks to Hugh Belsey who has confirmed this to be the work of Tilly Kettle from photographs. Tilly Kettle (1735-1786) was born in London, the third of six children by Henry Kettle (c.1704-c.1773), a coach painter, and his wife Ann. He attended William Shipley...